Grammatical Analysis
Āsavakkhayañāṇa: [nt.] knowledge of the destruction of the taints. Formed by āsava (taints, influxes) + khaya (destruction, exhaustion) + ñāṇa (knowledge).
Orthodox Definition
Āsavakkhayañāṇa is the sixth and final supernormal knowledge (abhiññā). Unlike the first five, which are mundane and bound to saṃsāra, this knowledge is strictly supramundane (lokuttara). It was the third and final knowledge attained by the Buddha in the last watch of the night, finalizing his supreme awakening.
This knowledge occurs when the mind perfectly penetrates the Four Noble Truths. The meditator directly sees: “This is suffering, this is the origin, this is the cessation, this is the path… These are the taints, this is their origin, this is their cessation, this is the path leading to their cessation.”
Upon seeing this, the mind is absolutely liberated from the taint of sensual desire (kāmāsava), the taint of existence (bhavāsava), and the taint of ignorance (avijjāsava). This knowledge is the exact cognitive threshold crossing over into full Arahatship.
Textual References
- Sutta: Bhayabherava Sutta (MN 4) – The climax of the Buddha’s meditative battle, where the destruction of the taints produces the knowledge: “Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived…”
- Canonical: Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) – The ultimate fruit of the ascetic life, compared to looking into a perfectly clear pool of water and seeing the pebbles and shells clearly at the bottom.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter XXII) – Aligning this specific knowledge with the supramundane path-consciousness of Arahatship.